U-M plans e-waste recycling event for individuals and organizations

By Nancy Connell
Director of Strategic Communications

The Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS) and Ann Arbor Public Schools are sponsoring free e-waste recycling events designed to help area residents, small businesses and non-profits recycle electronics in an earth-friendly way.

OCS, which serves as the focal point for sustainable campus operations, is promoting the event. The e-waste disposal opportunity occurs over three days, and is part of U-M’s month-long commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

The recycling days are hosted by Pioneer High School and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Times and dates are:

• Local businesses and non-profit organizations: 9 a.m. -2 p.m., April 22 and 23, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, 1819 S. Wagner Road. Pre-registration at michigan.poweron.com/p/register is requested to ensure adequate staffing, but is not required.

“Our goal is to give individuals and organizations a no-cost way to dispose of electronic equipment responsibly. The e-waste event enables residents and businesses the ability to get rid of equipment in a way that doesn’t harm the environment nor put data at risk,” says Terry Alexander, executive director of OCS.

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the country and frequently contains hazardous materials like lead and mercury, which can adversely affect the environment. The free disposal event for everything from laptops to desktops to televisions and telephones keeps these electronics out of landfills and recaptures raw materials that can be reused to manufacture new items.

This is the third year U-M has sponsored free e-waste recycling. The 2009 event filled 21 semi-trailers and kept 262 tons of hazardous e-waste out of local landfills.
For a complete list of accepted materials, and additional information on the free recycling events, visit: www.climatesavers.umich.edu/e-waste.

All equipment is destroyed and recycled in an environmentally sound manner by a fully permitted recycling facility.